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LEAP helped to land $200M in projects in 2016

A rendering of the $67 million Elevation at Okemos Pointe project, which will have roughly 400 apartments and a food vendor market. The Lansing Economic Area Partnership helped line up incentives for this project and 16 others in 2016.(Photo: courtesy rendering)

LANSING - The Lansing Economic Area Partnership helped to draw $200 million in private investment in Greater Lansing last year, which will create 268 jobs in the region.

"It was a good year," said Bob Trezise, president and CEO of LEAP, which released its annual report last week. "One thing we always try to do is change the skyline visibly."

The report highlights 17 projects in the region that add up to $200 million. LEAP only includes projects that it helped line up incentives for, so the $154-million Park District project in East Lansing, for example, isn't included.

The largest project was Gestamp's expansion in Mason. The auto supplier is in the process of making $90 million in equipment upgrades to its 550,000-square-foot facility on Kipp Road.

Other projects include the $67-million Elevation at Okemos Pointe, the $20-million expansion of the Hope Sports Complex in Lansing and the $6.6-million Spartan Motors expansion in Charlotte.

LEAP landed $63 million more investment in 2016 than in 2015. It helped attract $271 million in 2014 and $466 million in 2013.

Grand Rapids had $565 million in investment last year, according to the city's economic development office. Ann Arbor's 2016 numbers are not yet released, but it had $130 million in private investment commitments in 2015, which is $7 million less than what Lansing had, according to Ann Arbor Spark's annual report.

Trezise said the investment in 2017 is on track to surpass 2013's numbers. That's because the $380-million Red Cedar Renaissance project could start then. The $125-million Center City District project in East Lansing would also be included.

"2016 has been a set-up for 2017," Trezise said. "Our projects add jobs and add revenue for the municipalities.This signifies our economy is massing and big-city-like."